Some voters hit the polls early in Red Deer on Tuesday.
Some of them, such as Red Deer’s Bob Roden, wanted to beat the long lineups. So he showed up at Bower-Kin Community Centre voting station in south Red Deer just before 9 a.m.
Polls are open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Roden said he tried to vote in advance polls at Parkland Mall, but changed his mind once he saw the long lineup.
“It was too busy,” said Roden, 79.
The last time Roden voted, he waited in line for four or five hours, so he wanted to hit the polls early this time around.
The unofficial results released Tuesday night won’t include a portion of the advance poll ballots – about 223,000. That didn’t bother Roden, who said, “whatever will be, will be.”
Albertans will have to wait for the 223,000 ballots that were cast by voters outside of their electoral divisions to be tallied up. The counting starts Wednesday at noon and is expected to be completed by Saturday.
Red Deer’s Frances Pye, who came with Roden, also wanted to beat the lineup. The 68-year-old said she knew who she was voting for.
Red Deer resident Ales Johnson was among the lineup of about 10 or so people just before 9 a.m. waiting for the voting station at Bower-Kin Community Centre to open.
“Because I have other appointments today, and I wanted to make sure I don’t miss the polls,” said Johnson.
She said it’s imperative to vote.
“You can’t complain, if you don’t put your voice in.”
The Red Deer resident expected a decent turnout at the polls Tuesday, given the higher turnout at advance polls.
“Whenever there is challenges in the economy, in policies going forward, people tend to come out more, which is good.”
Johnson said her work is flexible, but questioned why the polls didn’t open sooner for those who may not have the same flexibility.
“It’s a shame it isn’t open until nine,” Johnson said.
She said she will watch for the unofficial results Tuesday night, but will keep in mind that they may change once the 223,000 advance voting ballots are counted.
For more election day coverage visit reddeeradvocate.com throughout the day,
mamta.lulla@reddeeradvocate.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
